Again, from the National Organization for Marriage:
"It is amazing to me that in honestly answering a question during
the Miss USA pageant, my answer would lead to what have become
vicious attacks on me and my integrity as a woman. We have
a great country, a country that was built on freedom of speech
and freedom of religion. Yet my comments defending marriage
as between a man and a woman have now lead to intimidation
tactics that seek to undermine my integrity and somehow silence
me and my beliefs as if opinion is only a one way
street.
"I am a Christian and I am a model. Models pose for
pictures, including lingerie and swimwear photos. The photos of
me taken as a teenager have been released surreptitiously to a
tabloid website that openly mocks me for me for my Christian
faith. I am not perfect and I will never claim to be
perfect. But the attacks on me and others who speak in
defense of marriage are precisely the kind of intolerant,
offensive attacks that I hear some in the gay community say are
hurled at them for their opinions. No one should have their
opinion silenced through vicious and mean-spirited attacks on
one's character and integrity.
"I will continue to support and defend marriage as the honorable
institution it is. I will continue to stand with the overwhelming
majority of the American people. If this whole experience
has taught me anything it is how precious our right to speak
freely is, and how we as Americans can never allow anyone or
any group to intimidate or threaten us to keep silent."
Having seen what is apparently the most revealing photo -- and
it's not really that revealing -- I am just about certain it
was not taken when Miss Prejean was a teenager. I have asked for
clarification. The blogs are
all abuzz about this.
